A selfless Camden man who races across the globe to deliver life-saving stem cells to seriously ill patients has been named Volunteer of the Year at a House of Commons awards ceremony.

Peter Hodes was given the prize at the Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards yesterday in recognition of his work for blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

The 69-year-old, of Lyme Terrace, Camden Town, has helped over 100 potentially life-saving bone marrow transplants take place since 2012 with trips as far as the USA, Australia, Israel and Singapore - always ensuring the stem cells are picked up and delivered to patients within their 72-hour lifespan.

Mr Hodes, who runs his own business teaching computer skills to older citizens, became a supporter of Anthony Nolan after donating one of his kidneys to a friend suffering from kidney failure in 2006.

He said: “The reason I became involved with the charity was because eight years ago I donated a kidney to a friend who lives in Hampstead and it was done in the Royal Free.

“I realised I’d saved her life and I thought, ‘If I can do this, I must be able to do more to save lives’.

“It’s absolutely wonderful to win the award but I don’t do this work to win awards, I do it because it’s something I feel really passionate about.”

Mr Hodes’ volunteer role with the charity also includes giving talks to sixth formers about donating stem cells, visiting donors in hospitals and packing saliva kits to send out to donors.

Antony Nolan, which is based in Heathgate Place, Hampstead, is celebrating its 40th anniversary year having been set up as the world’s first bone marrow register.

It uses its register to match potential bone marrow donors to blood cancer patients in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Mr Bodes urged others to get involved with the charity, adding: “There are so many people of my age who could be doing something in the charitable sector. There must be many people living in Hampstead whom Antony Nolan would die for to have their help.”

Henny Braund, Anthony Nolan chief executive, said: “Thousands of people support Anthony Nolan and enable us to carry out our life-saving work.

“Peter really has gone above and beyond in his commitment to the charity and we’re so grateful for everything that he does.

“We wouldn’t be celebrating our 40th anniversary without all those amazing people like Peter, who support us tirelessly to make our work possible.”

For more information about Anthony Nolan, visit anthonynolan.org